A Taste of Summer: Beautiful Australian Beach Houses

You know how people will say "It's 5 o'clock somewhere" to give themselves the abandon to ditch reality for a second and enjoy a cocktail at 9 AM? Consider this a friendly reminder it's also summer somewhere right now. Australia, actually. So if you're looking for a reason to forget that it's frigid where you are, a peek at these pictures might be just the thing to help you snap out of it.

Above: This house on Austinmer Beach is a standing contradiction: It's a family home and a party house. It's beachy and industrial all at once. (And I could live on that deck, to be honest.) See more on Inside Out.

This sweet Merrick, Victoria, home has a lot to love. It's a little bit rustic, a little bit retro and a little bit boho, all wrapped up with–OMG–that candy-colored kitchen. Check it out at My Scandinavian Home.

This family home in Sunshine Beach, Noosa, manages to keep the coastal thing looking modern and colorful. That living fern wall in the courtyard/dining room is a sight to behold. See more on Design Milk.

Last, but certainly not least, is this Western Australia home with a rural vibe. It belongs to an artist who likes to capture the water birds and fish that she can spot through her beach-facing windows. From Homelife.